CA smog test costs - Printable Version

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CA smog test costs - ds968 - 06-27-2005

Another brilliant CA DMV initiative: 15% of cars up for registration renewal in

the golden state, or at least the state's designated high smog areas, like L.A., S.F., Sacramento, San Diego, among others.. are now randomly picked and MANDATED to use a "TEST ONLY" smog check facility.



Difference in testing criteria or equipment used vs. the "regular" test : NONE.



Difference in cost : about $ 25 to $ 35 more for the Test ONLY smog check, the latter a roughly 100% increase vs. most of the other testing centers that also happen to be capable of repairs.



Result: a great gift for " test only " stations. So they now engage in what could arguably be price fixing ( ..were it not for the $1 or $2 difference you might find among them.. ) knowing the competition is statutorily barred from testing a significant number of cars. Not sure if the state takes in a portion of this cost as well but I would not be surprised if they did.



WHY ? According to the DMV : to reduce consumer fraud where smog check and repair facilities in certain cases have taken advantage of customers by fraudulently informing them they did not pass the test, and offer to fix the car on the spot, adding a hefty charge when the repair was not at all needed.



Not arguing this did not happen, but in typical government fashion ( throwing the baby out with the bathwater ) millions of cars are now subjected to paying nearly double the fee...



BTW, I could care less about an extra $35 - I spend more than that for one pair of socks.. but the principle of it drives me nuts !



Similar issue, on a grand scale: Sarbanes-Oxley enacted due to a handful of corporate crooks. Sure these guys need to be tarred and feathered, and put away for life, but now thousands upon thousands of companies spend $$ MILLIONS each on compliance, a few having to lay off a group of employees to hire another group to handle the S-OX framework and all because the government overreacts and imposes sweeping legislation applying to 99% of businesses which have never breaching any ethical or legal boundaries.



Ok, off my soap box now. Sheesh, too much coffee today. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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